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Revealed - the hardest and easiest conditions to claim PIP for

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Benefits and Work has compiled a list of over 500 conditions arranged in order of how hard it is to get an award of PIP, using the DWP’s own Stat-Xplore database.

The overall average success rate for PIP claims is 52%.

But this can vary greatly depending on the condition.

So, for example, awards for continence related conditions tend to fall below the average:

  • Urge incontinence  13.7%
  • Stress incontinence  15.7%
  • Faecal soiling (encopresis) 23.8%
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 26.1%

Awards for arthritis, on the other hand, are above the average:

  • Osteoarthritis of other single joint  56.5%
  • Osteoarthritis of Knee  64.2%
  • Osteoarthritis of Hip 73.8%
  • Primary generalised Osteoarthritis 74.0%
  • Rheumatoid arthritis 74.7%

Awards relating to mental health vary widely:

  • Anxiety disorders - Other / type not known  38.8%
  • Generalised anxiety disorder  42.7%
  • Anxiety and depressive disorders – mixed  49.6%
  • Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)  58.2%
  • Bipolar affective disorder  61.3%
  • Schizophrenia  69.7%

Some conditions are extremely likely to attract an award:

  • Dementia 94.1%        
  • Motor neurone disease 97.5%
  • Down’s syndrome 99.6%
  • Creutzfeldt - Jacob disease (CJD) 100%

But on its own this doesn’t tell the whole tale.  For example, it doesn’t tell us what percentage of claimants got the enhanced rate of one or both components.

We can drill down further into DWP statistics to get these details. But it would be an enormous task to produce this information for every condition.

And it still wouldn’t tell us whether claimants are more or less likely to get the award that they think is correct.

So, we’d like to hear from readers about which conditions you think are the hardest to make a PIP claim for. 

You may have experience of claiming for more than one condition.  You may have helped people with different conditions who have put in a claim. Or you may consider your condition to be hard to claim for because it is treated with scepticism by some in the health professions.

Based on your feedback, we will produce more information about award rates for specific conditions.

Members can download the full list of over 500 conditions and percentage success rates in a pdf file entitled ‘Success rates for PIP claims by condition’ from the ‘Claims’ section of the PIP guides page.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Karen Upfield
    · 2 years ago
    EHLERS Danlos syndrome (inherited connective tissue disorder from faulty gene/s) and Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome - even most GP’s have never heard of either of this life impacting, whole body affecting rare conditions. A nightmare to pigeon hole the ‘ impact’ on every day life’ as every autonomic and physical body function is affected by faulty collagen. Our three kids were lucky enough to have been identified with these conditions By Kings College hospital consultants, but was still an absolute nightmare to go through the DLA, and then PIP process as the assessors didn’t even have these rare conditions on a medical database! Horrendous process, with many reassessments despite being genetic - and despite over 200 medical reports :( 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Helen Dolan
      · 2 years ago
      @Karen Upfield I agree karen the pathway with Eds is a hard road to travel all five of ten grandchildren have it three who are reliant on tube feeding youngest 12 eldest 21 , they get dla and changed to pip i have eds and managed to keep working up to aged 55 now i am in a power wheelchair my spine has been effected worse by convective tissue wearing out three fused discs pressing on lower three discs casusing ipressure  in to my spine neurosurgeon wont touch me said i am too high risk , yet still waiting for pip renewal five months now 

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    David
    · 2 years ago
    I think the less obvious (clinically speaking) mental health conditions are the hardest to claim for. There aren't any x-rays or MRI scans to provide rock solid evidence of depression (for example) and it's particularly hard to prove how it affects your daily life. I said I barely eat, sometimes once a day, sometimes not at all, and in the assessment report they gave me zero points for that category because I was apparently had no problems with eating. Was pretty shocked when I saw it. Thankfully, I did have all the hard evidence they love for my physical disabilities so got enough points in other categories for an award. However, if I'd only been claiming based on my depression, anxiety and OCD, I doubt I would have got my claim approved.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    alisonsthelene
    · 2 years ago
    I have read the list on the member's site and what I find most amazing is the scarcity of conditions being awarded at 100% when it must be blatantly obvious from the conditions listed in the 90%+ section of the list (and many other sections too) that people need a maximum award. I cannot see the point in drilling any further down into this data because in reality many people have multiple conditions and two people with the same condition might not necessarily have the same experiences of symptoms/effects. The whole thing needs to be looked at from a different perspective and I doubt if this government is actually capable of that, much less willing to consider it. The very notion that people with long term illnesses and disabilities have to prove the impact of their condition is demeaning and ludicrous. And yes I have been through this process multiple times for myself and my partner and I wouldn't have got the awards I have without the help of this wonderful site.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Magbots
    · 2 years ago
    Can't help but notice that a lot of conditions which either exclusively or predominantly affect women are not taken seriously or their affects are underestimated. These include fibromyalgia and endometriosis often associated with  POTS. Women are often subjected to gaslighting and it is often suggested that their pain is all in their mind. If attitudes propagated in the training of doctors about such conditions are not challenged it is hardly surprising that DWP decision makers who have no medical expertise at all come to make bad decisions.













  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Sylvia
    · 2 years ago
    I have severe ME, spend most of my life in bed, would have adverse consequences from walking, standing or even sitting up too long.
    But I wouldn't have got the award of standard rate on both counts if I didn't conveniently also have bad arthritis in my hip - a minor problem for me, since I'm too ill to walk much anyway. But the fact that my hip doesn't flex outwards so I can't wash between my toes, struggle to put a sock on etc, that's where I gained my points.
    Musculoskeletal conditions definitely score higher. If I had the hip replacement I've been offered I'd lose my PIP, and probably my Blue Badge too. But I still wouldn't be able to get out of bed.
    I do see that ME is hard for them to gauge - before this relapse I had only mild ME and was working, swimming, having a life.  And now not. But there's no objective evidence I'm this ill now, they just have to take it on trust from me. And I'm sure there are people who are tempted to exaggerate to get more money, I'm just not one of them.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Chris
    · 2 years ago
    I have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis chronic back and knee pain autism spectrum disorder mental health and ibs what would happen to me
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      S
      · 2 years ago
      @Chris I got pulmonary fibrosis bronchiectasis and I get pip mate
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Andrew.belcher
    · 2 years ago
    Severn dvts claudication not got a thing pip or esa
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Denise
    · 2 years ago
    I have generalized arthritis in hip and knee. Also I for many years suffer with anxiety and stres. Would these conditions make me eligible and what evidence would I need.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Isla
      · 2 years ago
      @Denise I've found the best evidence is support letters from gp or an organisation. Remember it's not the condition you have that matters but how it affects your life. Can you go out alone? Can you dress, feed, clean yourself? How much medication do you take? They'll want to see repeat prescription evidence. Do you use aids? Walking stick, sock pull, wrist supports etc. It's not unusual to be turned down on first attempt but don't be put off, go for reconsideration and appeal if necessary. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jo
    · 2 years ago
    With Fibromyalgia it all depends on if the assessor 'believes' it is real. Just like a lot of the medical profession still does.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    dave
    · 2 years ago
    This was sent in with a PIP review form (further information ) Monday.  
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    There is no change in our father’s diagnosed degenerative / chronic medical conditions. These conditions will never improve in time; they will only get worse as he ages.
    He as periodically reviews with his doctor’s practice concerning his health and medication.

    We have included with his review form, our previous mandatory reconsideration letters, tribunal decision notice, complaint letter and your decision notices since his initial claim for PIP in November 2017. To shown the disparity in points awarded and the length of award duration?

    An example of this is, he gets nil points across the board on initial claim and then he gets 8 points and 4 for mobility at appeal. Shortly after he is reviewed again and the “ink hasn’t dried from the appeal papers yet” and he is awarded nil points on living and mobility? Another reconsideration letter, followed by a letter of complaint results in 11 points living and nil point’s mobility, standard rate awarded again.

    All this he has had to deal within a short space of time, adding more stress and anxiety to him as well as his partner/family that help and support him. All this couldn’t be explained enough by going over the same ground time and time again.  

    _________________________________________________________________________________

    He is in receipt of a War Pension at 50% the mobility supplement and his army service (AFPS75) deferred pension paid early for injuries in service. Spondylolisthesis L5/S1 ,Spondylolysis, Arthritis, Knee, PTSD. etc .  Some folk will get rubber stamped, others will give up and the few that are left will fight at tribunal. Get help and advice from welfare agency's.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Gary Ashurst
    · 2 years ago
    I broke my neck well actually my Atlas bone in 1985 which as left me with spinal pain which effects my legs my arms but they still keep taking away my mobility award 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    MSR
    · 2 years ago
    The system needs to change its wholly unfair. I was refused PIP on each level despite having debilitating grade 4 osteoarthritis in my knees and feet, fibromyalgia and joint Hypermobility. The male assessor tutted/puffed all through the 2 hour ordeal and made me feel like scum for asking for help. I rarely leave the house and we live on my husbands firefighter wage. My 16 yr old daughter and him help me in between work and college. Yet across the street a neighbour who has fibromyalgia yet goes out driving to her cleaning job for 6 hours a day 4 times a week (plus her husbands wage and no kids) has received PIP for years and carers allowance for husband. I cried for days and could face attending a tribunal let alone the journey. Age 53
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Sal
      · 1 years ago
      @MSR I'm so sorry for you msr, the assessors seem to try to minimise arthritis, and there is totally a culture of disregarding pain completely. My arthritis is getting so bad I often cant go out but the assessor made such a thing of how every issue I have would be solved by using aids(which I struggle with due to arthritic hands and poor grip meaning most aren't suitable) she also started I use a walking stick when it's too painful for me to grip one. I am now reduced to lowest mobility rate  which I suppose is due to how little I can go out now. The assessor also went far too far into my abusive childhood(I have had depression since 6 years old) and repeatedly asked about self harming till I burst into tears. She then scored this as zero and made no reference to what had happened. It felt like a violation frankly
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Margaret
      · 2 years ago
      @MSR Sorry this happened to you. It's scandalous the way some people are treated. It must make you angry watching your so called I'll neighbour going out to work. The system is so flawed.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Olive
    · 2 years ago
    I am diagnosed with C-PTSD, fibromyalgia and CFS/ME. My biggest gripe is that my conditions present with cognitive issues. Yet their recent assessment report said no cognitive issues. Despite my meltdowns during the assessment and the assessor getting cross and impatient because she couldnt understand me when I struggled to describe my daily issues- I struggle to communicate when put under so much pressure. 
    They are writing reports to suit their own agenda. I am disputing their lowered award, MRN. With the help of family, I have completed a self assessment with percentages and distances, along with some additional information, stating that for more than 80% of the time, I am unable to complete or attempt tasks within a reasonable amount of time or without it causing significant psychological distress, fatigue or pain. 
    It is a brutal, unfair system designed to trip you up, keep you down and put an added bonus in their pay packet. 
    I know it's hard, but keep on fighting for what the law says you are entitled to
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Fliss
      · 2 years ago
      @Olive This is exactly the same for me.  I slurry my words when tired and sound almost drunk. I never drink.   Communication is extremely difficult when stressed and or tired. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Rosemary
    · 2 years ago
    ME/CFS was my initial diagnosis in 1990. I had to fight hard, repeatedly, tribunals etc. over the decades for DLA: awarded lower care, upper mobility. It was not until I was re-diagnosed as EDS, PoTS and mast cell disorder in 2020 when I was transitioning to PIP (tribunal again!)  that I finally was awarded higher mobility and care that I should have had from the start. I would not be as severe as I am now (housebound, in bed >90% day) if I had been awarded the correct level of support over these decades. Retired now, but trying to manage work without the support proved harmful.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Tracey
    · 2 years ago
    CRPS and Chronic Fatigue. CRPS is a rare disease that starts after an injury to a nerve - it’s associated with a fracture to a limb or an accident resulting in nerve damage. As it’s rare, there isn’t much information out there. I had a fractured arm after an assault at work and I’ve been left with CRPS in my dominant arm and spread to my other arm. I now need daily care, can’t do very much for excruciating pain and I’ve just had to have a spinal stimulator implanted with a neck paddle resulting in a Laminectomy as well. This chronic pain condition is rated the most painful condition on record and it’s still very misunderstood. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Sarah
    · 2 years ago
    Fibromyalgia and Autism! I have had to claim and appeal for both me and my son. I have also helped many friends who have fibro and it's been a long hard slog. Absolutely disgusting the way we are treated, as if we don't have enough to deal with. The system is set up so that everyone fails unless they know how to play the game! We shouldn't be made to go through such undignified treatment.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Zee
    · 2 years ago
    Hi. Last year, after nearly three years on enhanced PIP mobility (just) but standard care, after being transferred from high on both levels under DLA - I got the DWP to review and enhance my care - all backdated three years... How? Because my ASD diagnosis in 2021, submitted as a change of circumstance, was dismissed as 'not relevant'... They relied on my original PIP assessment, made by an arrogant underqualified paramedic who not only lied he was a 'qualified disability assessor', that I 'assessed' by TWO 'assessors' - the other being so heavily pregnant and hormonal (two weeks before due) I should not have been exposed to her emotional outburst that left me distressed and distraught, the fact the paramedic wrote in my assessment (which he rewrote at the time instead of reading my 100-page submission detailing my whole life as originally submitted - asserted in a number of places he didn't believe me) to refuse my request to review... I didn't try for nearly three years to ask for a mandatory reconsideration, for fear of being re-subjected to another harrowing PIP assessment... I think what triggered them most was writing saying a refusal would force me to go to tribunal to claim the DWP relyied on the illegal and heavily biased original PIP assessment  and that I would also claim disability discrimination (my ASD diagnosis) on the part of the DWP... I had to chase three times before I found they had 'lost' and then 'found' my letter three months later... Another complaint to add if I went to the tribunal... I don't think the DWP wanted to explain themselves to a tribunal...
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    nika1000
    · 2 years ago
    ENDOMETRIOSIS. A life limiting disease. Truly heartbreaking to see my daughter rolling on the floor with pain with frequent flare ups and totally depleted of energy and fatigued the rest of the time, not able to study or work.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    E.
    · 2 years ago
    Definitely invisible conditions, M.E, Fribromyalgia, POTS, EDS, PCOS, Endometriosis. I have all bar three of these and when I was first diagnosed after 3 years of Dr appointments I struggled so much to get any points. I had to appeal my first ESA which went to tribunal. I’m glad I took it that far and pleaded my case. Since then each reassessment and applying for pips has been just as hard. I really don’t know whether time has any factor in helping. I’ve been on PIP and ESA now for over a decade and the last reassessment I used your guides and it’s the first time I’ve never had to have a face to face assessment. Just a phone call and was awarded higher. Invisible conditions are so hard but I’m so grateful for this group and the help they give! 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jennifer Knox
    · 2 years ago
    I claim for oestoarthritis and rheumatoid and everytime I have to fight for my award I've had multiple operations on joints but this apparently doesn't matter used to get higher award but couldn't face fighting them as had just had back surgery at time they bully you at interview and try to be nice so you will slip up its like being interviewed at police station for a murder.You got to prove your ill as doctors letters apparently mean nothing.

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